Amid the ruined walls of the Hill of the Twin Execution, spiritual pressure blanketed the land like heavy clouds.
The remaining Captains spread out in a circle, surrounding Toshiro Hitsugaya, Momo Hinamori, and Rangiku Matsumoto at the center.
Shiba Kaien, Captain of the Third Division, stood at the front. With his brows tightly furrowed and his gaze fixed on Toshiro, he was the first to break the silence.
"Captain Hitsugaya," Shiba Kaien said heavily, "for you to temporarily block the Captains' combined attack is something your original strength could never have achieved.
And Captain Potter—though he was already powerful, he was nowhere near his current level. To think he could suppress the Captain Commander and Captain Aizen... you must give us an explanation!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding Captains voiced their agreement.
Soi Fon spoke coldly:
"That's right. Soul Society has never seen such a precedent. Two Captains hid their true strength for decades without anyone noticing.
Even the spiritual pressure of you three has somehow reached first-class. What exactly is your objective?"
Facing the probing gazes of the Captains, Toshiro Hitsugaya did not evade them in the slightest. He raised a hand to grip Hyōrinmaru's hilt, his voice carrying clearly across the Hill of the Twin Execution.
"Harry's strength has always far exceeded our understanding. He has always been this powerful—strong enough to rival the Captain Commander, perhaps even surpass him."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Momo Hinamori and Rangiku Matsumoto beside him before continuing.
"As for us, the reason our strength improved so quickly, allowing us to barely keep pace with the Captain Commander and Captain Aizen's battle, is because Harry helped modify our spirit bodies."
Those words exploded among the Captains like a thunderclap.
Shiba Kaien abruptly stepped forward, his tone filled with